tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-183414182014-10-03T01:19:50.769-07:00Creative SideThis is a look into my life as an artist/writer and a few snitches of life along the way.creative sidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09915589368421829729noreply@blogger.comBlogger110125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18341418.post-19166044603438348952012-09-15T18:13:00.002-07:002012-09-15T18:13:44.113-07:00SO HAPPY TO BE ALIVE<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wow, I never suspected that I would spend 2 1/2 months in the hospital with four surgeries including a neck and upper spine fusion due to MSSA Staph infection.&nbsp; It is the little brother of MRSA Staph.&nbsp; I don't stand straight any more, I have two ugly scars on my neck, but other than that and the "for life" antibiotics I have fared well.&nbsp; Many well wishes from friends and family and lots of flowers and fruit while I was in the hospital helped to cheer my spirits.&nbsp; Thanks to all of&nbsp;you.&nbsp; I have lost 25# since the middle of June and am now trying to find smaller clothes in my old closet which is housed in the attic of the garage.&nbsp; </span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family: Arial;">I'm so happy to be alive!</span>creative sidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09915589368421829729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18341418.post-61625954196519813312012-01-18T14:36:00.000-08:002012-01-18T14:52:49.638-08:00TEN THINGS WEDNESDAY<span style="font-family:arial;">Tuesdays slip past so this is a ten things Wednesday post.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">1. I have come to love having Bob work from home.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">2. The snow today is brilliant and beautiful.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">3. I love having a housekeeper come once a month.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">4. Branches are breaking from the weight of the snow.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">5. I'm having trouble thinking of five more things.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">6. I enjoy my iPhone 4, but wish now that I had gone Android.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">7. The little daffodil bulb babies are poking their heads up.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">8. I WANT to go shopping!</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">9. We are almost out of milk and the driveway is too slippery to drive up.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">10.Sweet Beignet has turned into Beignet Monster. She has bit me three times really hard recently.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span>creative sidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09915589368421829729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18341418.post-88943208454718460392011-10-20T13:07:00.000-07:002011-10-20T13:17:59.820-07:00WHEW, TWO YEARS<span style="font-family:arial;">Unbelievably it has been two years since I contracted H1N1 which then set the Lupus which had been in remission into full force illness. I have spent a lot of days sleeping to heal and have had a lot of time to think. Here is what I think:</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">My body is not who I am. My spirit/soul/mind is who I am and that part of me is very healthy. During this entire two years I have had very few times when I have felt down or depressed. Of course I have been frustrated at the disease process, but that doesn't affect my internal self. I keep on thinking and looking for miracles and enjoying the things that I can. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Here is the best part: I have the most wonderful, caring, loving and kind husband in the entire world. I tell him this all of the time. We are both tired of the illness, but we have found happiness and communication in the midst of all of this. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">I have been completely bound in bed part of the time, Bob takes me to appointments in a wheelchair because the hospital is so big. I have chemo every other week and it takes me 10 days to feel better which sometimes only gives me two good days before the next treatment. Sometimes it feels like I am fighting cancer, only we look at blood tests for signs of remission instead of CT scans. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">For those of you who pray for me, thank you. I think that is part of why I am upbeat. Please keep on praying that this body will get the message to heal. I want to walk and exercise and do gardening and ART!</span>creative sidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09915589368421829729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18341418.post-34640189051372473922011-09-15T08:54:00.000-07:002011-09-15T09:00:43.249-07:00MEETING MY GOALS<span style="font-family:arial;">Well, it has been two months since I began a 99% vegetarian diet and I have lost #30 as of this morning. I still can't believe it. I have looked at a 25# bag of dog food and it is big. I'm almost ready to fit back into my smaller jeans. It is amazing how good success feels after so many long years of being overweight. I think that this style of nutrition will be my way to eat forever. I really hate the way sweet things and things with to much salt taste. Two weeks of juicing began that process. I still juice, but not all the time like I did the first week. </span>creative sidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09915589368421829729noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18341418.post-24614036795582815652011-07-25T18:15:00.000-07:002011-07-25T18:31:29.754-07:00RAW JUICE<span style="font-family:arial;">July 13 I decided that it was time to do something drastic to reset my brain and my taste buds. I had watched the documentary, "Sick, Fat, and Almost Dead" and was impressed by the vitality that two very ill men had accomplished by using a raw vegetable and fruit juice diet that I went ahead and checked with my doctors and they gave me the go-ahead to use it. Their exception was that I add some more protein in the form of fat free milk or yogurt, beans and eggs because I have been very sick and am still healing. I bought my juicer - the cheapest one on the shelf which was a Jack LaLane Express It, and have now been juicing for 12 days. Result so far is that I feel better, have more energy, my brain no longer teases me in wanting bad things to eat and I have lost 11 pounds. After an initial big plunge in weight it has steadied out to almost a pound a day. I don't expect that to continue at that rate, but it has made my pants too big. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">I am most impressed by the flavors of the juices I make and by the change in mind set. That was the first reason I went on the diet. For only 12 days, I am also impressed by the change in energy level, and what person wouldn't be impressed by the loss of excess pounds. The fourth thing I am impressed by is how little I crave what everybody else in the world eats and how disgusting fatty/sweet desserts seem to me now. I do crave hot foods, but not too much because it is summer and the produce is so amazing. Life will be so much different for me after the sixty days that I will be using this introduction to the flavor of food that is good for you. </span>creative sidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09915589368421829729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18341418.post-89727278531646250262011-07-08T21:47:00.000-07:002011-07-08T21:49:17.976-07:00ETC.<span style="font-family:arial;">I'm here, I'm alive and I'm happy. It might be summer but I can't tell because I'm wearing my fleece in July.</span>creative sidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09915589368421829729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18341418.post-70731377682637001782011-01-30T03:49:00.000-08:002011-01-30T04:03:46.711-08:00CHRISTMAS GONE, CD'S SHIPPED<span style="font-family:arial;">Finally Christmas decorations have been put away. After waiting a week for Chemo and then not feeling good for a week after chemo, I finally had the energy today to help Bob go through the Christmas decorations. We had so much more room for them in our large house and now I had to decide which special ones I wanted to keep. It will, in the future, make Christmas decorating and putting away much easier. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Bob has made a CD and many of you will be getting this via mail in the next week. He spent a long time working on it - many, many hours of thinking and creating to compose the work on this CD. I'm so proud of him and the quality of his composition. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">As I sit here, I look at the new photos we got for Christmas of Sam and his family. He is so sweet and charming and well behaved and full of surprises. I could just hug him forever (but I won't). He wears an <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">elf's</span> grin all the time and one never knows what he will say next. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Daffodils are about 3" high and I'm looking for peonies to show their pink little heads. Soon the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">hosta</span> will begin to sprout and we will have to be hot in pursuit as we plan to divide them this spring. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Our yard continues to grow and mature as we add new plants. Soon it will be warm enough to work in the yard again. Little green shoots show on our <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">weigelia</span> and I have finally discovered that it likes to be pruned in the spring after bloom. I thought it was a fall pruning plant. Learn, learn, learn. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">We went on a drive to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">Marysville</span> North of us last weekend and were in awe of the <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">cantaloupe</span> colored willows. There were also yellow weeping willow branches, but the orange ones were vibrant and delicious to look at. All of the trees looked as if they were just waiting for the flag to go down in order to start leafing out. How I love this time of year. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">If you are wanting hosta starts, let me know and plan to pick them up when we divide them. </span>creative sidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09915589368421829729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18341418.post-56744220101518572042011-01-05T00:18:00.000-08:002011-01-05T00:22:57.206-08:00NEW PRINTER/FAX/COPIER/SCANNER<span style="font-family:arial;">I've been watching the price on the HP 6500A all in one printer/fax/copier/scanner/web wireless for nearly a year. It started out at $229, then down to $199, today it was $149. That I could afford. $79 savings! It will take a bit to get it set up and it will probably be housed in Bob's office, but WOW, this will make things much easier and if you have a fax and know my number you can fax me your art or Christmas letter, or recipe. Our printers are going on 10 years old. It was time.</span>creative sidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09915589368421829729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18341418.post-67004243087514511442010-11-30T08:01:00.000-08:002010-11-30T08:10:56.149-08:00I'M STILL HERE<span style="font-family:arial;">Hey everybody, I didn't drop off the face of the planet. I'm sure you don't want to hear my year long health report, so we'll just say I'm here smiling and enjoying rain falling and long naps. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">We have three new Japanese Maple trees in our yard to compliment the four existing ones. Last year we planted four Vine Maples and next year we plan to plant more vine maples. On a big property, trees don't make much of an impact at once. Somebody asked how many trees we have on our property. We looked on one side of the driveway and saw at least sixty and that is the small portion of the property, but with smaller trees. Someday we may count, but suffice it to say that we live in the forest. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">We saw almost all of the family over Thanksgiving and little Sam was chattering away all the time and the life of the party. His favorite phrase was, "ready, set, go!". His other favorite word is, "no" in a little whine. He's a pretty well balanced kid. It was fun to see him RUN down the driveway to get to the house. It was also fun to see him give everybody hugs on his way out to go home. Quite a charmer he is. </span>creative sidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09915589368421829729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18341418.post-40854319986285889822010-09-28T20:48:00.000-07:002010-09-28T21:01:50.832-07:00BABY STEPS<span style="font-family:arial;">I have discovered the value of baby steps. When I take big steps I need a whole day to recover. When I take baby steps I gain ground. So lately I work for shorter periods of time and then rest. It seems to be helping. In a few days it will be a year since I got sick with what was thought initially to be H1N1. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Looking back over the last year I find that I have learned some things. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">1. The body heals as fast as it wants to heal.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">2. When the body is really sick, the brain shuts down to slow.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">3. People really, really care about me. Thanks folks:D</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">4. When one doesn't use muscle it converts to fat. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">5. When muscle converts to fat, one becomes very weak.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">6. Baby steps are very useful.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">7. I like to wear pajamas all day long if I'm not going out. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">8. Bob likes to be dressed even if he isn't going out and doesn't feel good.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">9. Knowing where your comfort zone lies is very important. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">10. Staying thankful keeps one's attitude in the right place. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">I've learned a lot more, but those are the things that come to mind on this particular day of my life. I'm so happy to be better even if it isn't all the way well. Better means I can go to church, I can drive myself to a doctor's appointment, I can go on short shopping trips, and I can have short work sessions in the yard. I'm still working up to going on walks and daily exercise, but the yard work counts as exercise, so I have begun some exercise. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">The final thing I want to share that I have learned is that I am the one in charge of my life and that what I do ultimately reflects in who I am. Becoming stronger is a big goal for me because I want my life to last for a long time. Being strong and eating healthy are two important things that I get to choose. To choose something, one has to take action, and I'm taking action. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Thanks to everyone for all of the love and care over this past year. All of you are why I try hard to do my best, but especially for Bob and Aimee and John and Sam. I love you all.</span>creative sidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09915589368421829729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18341418.post-5250127998411237072010-08-22T14:36:00.000-07:002010-08-22T14:42:52.747-07:00TO MY FANS<span style="font-family:arial;">It has been a long time since I've posted. I've spent much of it sleeping and not understanding why my body hadn't healed. The last visit to my doctor indicated that I had 10 times more inflammation going on in my body than the highest normal level. I guess that takes energy to heal which is why I needed so much sleep. Time will get me back to creativity. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">We have planted a few new items in the yard, the most pleasant of which is a hardy gardenia. As we walk by the path to the front door or get out of the car near the garage the fragrance is overwhelmingly lovely. It seems to like its new home and is busy making new blossoms. It is evergreen which will be a nice change in the spot in which it is located. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">I love you all - you already knew that- and especially to my niece Jennie I express condolences on losing her lovely pink hair because of a woman that doesn't understand the beautiful individual that she stands in authority over. May you shine pink inside Jennie.</span>creative sidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09915589368421829729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18341418.post-23849082117695819352010-08-02T11:08:00.000-07:002010-08-02T11:21:57.864-07:00YARD WORK<span style="font-family:arial;">Whew! Yesterday was planting day. I know, August 1 is the WRONG time of year to plant, but this body couldn't do it before this. I began by digging up some H<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">ostas</span> and replanting a hardy Gardenia in a sunny spot. The H<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">ostas</span> on that side of the garage got too much sun and burned every year. Then I had Bob dig up more H<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-error">ostas</span> for planting three large Hydrangea bushes. They will be semi shade and should be a beautiful color for this time of the year for years to come. Then we headed to the back yard and replanted all of the H<span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-error">ostas</span> into the shade around our back patio. We already had some there and wanted to fill in a lot of open space that was always invitation to weeds. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">We have hundreds of Hostas in our yard and all of them need dividing. Fall is a much better time for that project. I also rescue baby Sword Ferns from the drainage ditch at the top of our driveway every year and transplant them to useful areas. With the right conditions they can grow into large shrubs. </span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Little by little we make progress in our yard. Cut back lilacs and rhododendrons. Cut down dying fruit trees, plant more trees that can survive the conditions, plant day <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_4" class="blsp-spelling-error">lilys</span> (hundreds of them free from <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_5" class="blsp-spelling-error">Craigslist</span>), divide Lily of the Valley, transplant ferns, cut back Camellias, sweep off the deck, sweep off the deck, sweep off the deck, rest a little, sweep off the deck again. </span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Today I'm going to paint some medallions on our front door that is plain Jane dark brown. I'll use some <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_6" class="blsp-spelling-error">metallics</span> to give it some punch and I'm pretty sure BLUE will be involved. For those who don't know, all of my planting pots are blue. I'm a blue freak. I always thought my favorite color was purple, but it is becoming evident that my favorite is blue. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">This morning - sore muscles, but I'm getting stronger all the time. Thanks to all who have prayed for my recovery from a long illness.</span>creative sidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09915589368421829729noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18341418.post-2733837333072048702010-06-28T01:47:00.000-07:002010-06-28T01:49:14.253-07:00CALENDAR<span style="font-family:arial;">I looked at my calendar tonight and I have (for now) nothing scheduled for the next three weeks. NOTHING! That means I can garden and sew and do art to my heart's content. I could even start cooking again!</span>creative sidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09915589368421829729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18341418.post-29370534566724398332010-06-28T01:30:00.000-07:002010-06-28T01:46:13.918-07:00CRITTERS<span style="font-family:arial;">We have lots of little critters roaming and flying and crawling about our property. It's God's property, not ours, but we live here and manage it for him. We always say the cats own the house, they just let us live here. Yahoo can open all of the cupboards and doors in the house, including the doors going outside. The only one she can't manage is the sliding door and she has been working on that one. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Back to the critters. Last week we had our septic tank pumped. I'm sure it doesn't take much imagination to know that it is a smelly and disgusting job, but somebody has to do it. I chose not to observe that process except from indoors. A day later another two guys came to put risers onto the tank so that next time we don't have to dig the space of two coffins. It was cool to watch, but I left when the smelly part got opened. So, we have these darling little centipedes that are black with yellow spots on their sides. I've held them in my hand numerous times and they curl up and then start crawling. It tickles but is not scary. In fact my 18 month old grandson held one. They are literally all over and I'm sure there is something wonderful that they do for the earth. The guy that took the smelly lid off saw them and freaked out. I mean he was moving back away from them and he got all hebe jebe from them. I think they are cute. He was going to step on them and I encouraged him not to. They just live here and don't harm a thing. This was a big tough septic tank guy afraid of a little centipede. He may be in the wrong business because centipedes are everywhere. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">So far I haven't seen a snake, but I've seen ants both large and small, gnats and midges of all kinds, slugs and very few snails, butterflies, moths, spiders, bunnies, deer, bobcat, cougar and have heard coyote. We have had brief encounters with neighborhood cats and with raccoons. I've seen no evidence of opossum. There are numerous birds and we even had chickadees nest in our house this year. I'm pretty much a keep it natural girl. I don't like spiders snakes, but I can deal with them. I don't hold the fast moving centipedes because they are in a hurry. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">So folks, who is the brave one here? The septic guy or the little grandma? By the way I saw a baby centipede today and when they first hatch they are pale green. Cute little guy. </span>creative sidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09915589368421829729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18341418.post-12393763013503691262010-06-26T23:47:00.000-07:002010-06-27T00:02:48.715-07:00THINK OF ME AS STEEPING TEA<span style="font-family:arial;">I've been horribly absent from my website. My heart just hasn't been here. Thursday my cousin <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-error">LeRoy</span> <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_1" class="blsp-spelling-error">Kreiger</span> died. His wife has watched her brother die, her mother of cancer, her father of something unknown, her daughter of <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_2" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">Hodgkin's</span> disease, and now her husband of colon cancer that <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_3" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">metastasised</span>. I've known he was being overcome by the disease but to the end he remained hopeful. He was fine man, husband and father as well as funny, hysterically funny, kind, generous and fund to be around. So is Elaine. What a tremendous loss for her after losing so many of her family. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">I have also been playing catch up on medical appointments that I was too sick to make last fall and this spring. There are usually two or three a week and by the time I drive there, wait for the appointment, get through with it and get back home the day is gone and I'm tired. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">I always try to do my best to spread happiness and kindness throughout my life with the people I meet, but these last few months have taxed my positive attitude. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Our deer was back to eat the columbine seeds, but just one deer. Last time there were two. Mom must have sent the yearling out on her own. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">The chickadees from the birdhouse outside our kitchen patio door have fledged, leaving one little dead one behind. I fear he suffocated because there were so many - at least five or six plus two parents. I also found a completely perfect robin's egg the other day. Nature always astounds me. We walk around the yard and find things that put icing on the cake that is our life. We have little black centipedes with yellow spots that are everywhere. They are so sweet and we can pick them up and they crawl on our hands. They seem like little friends.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Our spring has been so late this year because of the temperatures. I am still fearful to put my basil out. I may just keep it in my garden window. It gets plenty of light there. My orchid is putting on a blossom stem and I'm so excited. This has never happened for me before. I was just about to throw it out when I noticed the little bud. How cool is that? </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">So folks, that's my life in a nutshell for the last several weeks. I hope yours had more happiness and less tragedy. </span>creative sidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09915589368421829729noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18341418.post-9762631275394902332010-06-03T17:05:00.000-07:002010-06-03T17:16:55.971-07:00I REMEMBER<span style="font-family:arial;">Recently I read a friends blog and the words I remember triggered an exercise that I used to do for creative writing. It was writing about our memories. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">I remember family reunions, both as a child and as an adult. As a child I was just the cute little tow head that everybody wanted to hold or twirl around. As an adult I began to realize the strong connection of family and how we change from year to year. Aunt Mary many times brought her amazing apple cake, somebody always brought a box of fruit, Dave and Dar were the experts at watermelon, carving ornate baskets from the rind. Over the years their skills have definitely improved. There were many times weddings that substituted for family reunions, and many times there were an enormous amount of people coming from long distances. Sometimes Fred and Ester were able to come all the way from Estonia (a Baltic nation of the former Soviet Union). We have lost two of Mom's brothers and a couple of years ago was the first time that Mom and Dad missed the reunion because Dad had fallen and broken several bones. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Family reunions aren't about all the good food everybody brings. They are about the love and fellowship and caring that goes on and on in a most wonderful family. It is about games and water play and sunshine and lemonade. It is about new babies and the joy of watching them play together and of course we also see wrinkles appear more pronounced on all of us. It is a snapshot of the passage of life. I'm so thankful for this family.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">My family lives far away and most of the children live far away, so those family reunions are long between each other, but just as special because we see a toddler become a young man and a young man become a loving a patient father. Pay attention at your next family reunion and see the time pass in a snapshot.</span>creative sidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09915589368421829729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18341418.post-55018060897258258782010-05-19T04:58:00.000-07:002010-05-19T05:10:39.867-07:00COMMUNITY SERVICE<span style="font-family:arial;">Last night I went to a neighborhood meeting for our development. I'm a member of the Architectural Committee which helps to <span id="SPELLING_ERROR_0" class="blsp-spelling-corrected">interpret</span> infractions of our covenant and also reviews requests for homeowner changes. For 81 homes that can get to be a busy job, but fortunately most of it is able to happen by email. Last night was a very animated positive meeting where people expressed opinions in quite a civil way. A lot of progress was made on some very important issues and I am thankful for that. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">I first volunteered for this committee when an all-neighbor request was sent out for members. I saw it as a way that I could do a civil duty and help make decisions that directly affect the value of our home. I also knew that I had the ability to look ahead and see if things could become problems in any in terms of our covenant. To explain a covenant; it is a legal document that indicates that each homeowner will comply with the rules of the document that they sign at the closing on their home. So, here I am in a wee bit of a sticky mess about a very large infraction to our covenant, but our job is just to interpret whether an infraction has been made. No legal action has to be made unless the homeowners want it to happen. At this point it looks like people want to go forth with the legal action. We will see how a vote comes out to be seen some time next week. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">I encourage each an every one of you to find a way to help in supporting your community. There are a lot of small jobs out there and even people with lots of health problems like me can still participate. In the end the feeling of being connected to your community outside of church connections becomes very strong. </span>creative sidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09915589368421829729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18341418.post-11154781941409911502010-05-12T12:12:00.000-07:002010-05-12T12:33:52.243-07:00JUST AN ORDINARY DAY<span style="font-family:arial;">Well, it really isn't ordinary, it is spectacular! The sun is shining, the thirty or so rhododendrons are blooming, the pink fairy colored columbines have begun to bloom and the birds are singing. Actually the birdsong has died down a bit, because everybody has babies to tend. I have about six birdhouses out on our deck wall, but of course they don't get visitors, but the hanging one at our back patio has chickadee babies in it. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">We got a little patio table for two and I was proudly setting it up where I thought it should go and all of a sudden I was in trouble with the chickadee family. Oops! I quickly moved the table and two chairs to the other side of the patio. We do love the birdsong here and there are a few new ones that we didn't hear in Portland. This morning I saw a Rufus Breasted hummingbird. They don't go to Portland. They aren't territorial like Anna's hummingbirds so it isn't unusual to see several of them together at once. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">I'm slowly improving. Currently the idea is that all of these episodes of flu have been Lupus like events. I'm to see a Rheumatologist soon. I've seen so many specialists my head is spinning and I can't remember all of their names. Hopefully someone will be able to explain what has been going on. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Beignet has suffered from my sickness. She gets bored when I have to sleep. I've begun taking naps on the couch now. She had a deformed feather that died and caused her some discomfort. From that one thing she began digging at her tail area until it was a scabbed mess. She had to have surgery again to close the wound. During two of the surgeries she has had breathing problems. During the first she had a complete respiratory arrest. During this one I noticed that her breathing was becoming shallow and they gave her drugs to help her ramp up her breathing. It is a tricky thing doing surgery on tiny things. Dosages have to be micromanaged. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">I have been fortunate (some might not agree) to be able to be with her during surgery. The vets know that I have an interest in biology and I'm not wimpy about blood. They said when I was calm during her respiratory arrest that I passed the test for being able to attend surgery. I just want to know what is happening to Beignet and to be present for her. I think she senses that, because she doesn't act angry about the surgery. She just doesn't like the collar. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">I've been hand feeding her for almost a week now. I think she milks the hand feeding routine because I've seen her eating on her own. The issue is that having a collar on makes her lose weight and it is already low. We have to keep caloric intake high for her. You can see that this is like having a child in terms of love and care. </span>creative sidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09915589368421829729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18341418.post-30751002452066457662010-05-04T20:02:00.001-07:002010-05-04T20:09:33.658-07:00AN IDEA<span style="font-family:arial;">I'm done posting Ten Things Tuesday until my health improves. It is hard to think of how exciting my life is when I feel like *^#+!%! I am doing a few fun things, but they just sound really wimpy compared to what I think they should be. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">A note for all of you who follow my blog: I have a new blog which has not real posts on it, but it will be solely for art. It is <a href="http://www.openeyedart.blogspot.com/">www.openeyedart.blogspot.com</a></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">I hope to be posting photos of some of my work and some of my doodles and even some sketches. I have to get that camera busy. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">We had a bobcat, two deer, and a bunny all that should have registered on Bob's critter cam. Lo, he had a card in that couldn't be written on because a little button was in the wrong place. Drat! The deer that we have seen so frequently didn't have babies this year and one of her twins is missing. I'm afraid the cougar was hard on wildlife around here last winter. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Google slipped out the front door a couple of weeks ago and has been WAILING about wanting to go out again. We got the cat stroller down, but the zipper has a rip that needs repairing. Soon Google, soon.</span>creative sidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09915589368421829729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18341418.post-78745908037289615232010-04-28T16:37:00.000-07:002010-04-28T16:47:16.778-07:00A FEW NOTES ON TUESDAY<span style="font-family:arial;">1. Beignet ruptured a small pin feather. Scared me to death. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">2. It is so green here and I can see that warm weather is on its way, finally.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">3. I've been knitting a hat for John.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">4. Our dogwood is blooming.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">5. I have seed packets lined up on the counter waiting for the right day to plant them.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">6. Two deer were in the yard on Sunday and I walked within about 6 feet of them, then one of them lay down. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">7. I want to lay down with a color book and be like a kid again and just color whatever I want. I can do that, I can.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">8. We are trying to get Beignet to say Please. It is an awesome task and she is resistant.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">9. I was at Macy's today buying unmentionables and saw the new styles in clothes. I think I'm in the dark ages, but I don't want to leave. It was hard enough the first through ninth times learning how to stay in style. I think I'll just keep this one. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">10. I ordered henna powder and oils (terps) to make henna paste. I'm eager to do this, but have to practice some designs first. </span>creative sidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09915589368421829729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18341418.post-69974748780872183432010-04-22T18:15:00.000-07:002010-04-22T18:23:51.990-07:00A JUMBLED UP WEEK<span style="font-family:arial;">1. Bob woke me up Monday morning, I got up and had breakfast and slept until he woke me up when he came home. My body is still healing.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">2. Wednesday I had my weekly visit with my primary care doc. I'm doing better, but have to see a ear, nose and throat specialist and also a pulmonologist. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">3. I've already seen the throat doctor and my vocal cords are severely swollen. I'll be back on antibiotics and we will try more frequent inhaled steroids. If that doesn't work, then it's the big stuff again.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">4. I actually got out of the house twice this week.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">5. I fell asleep watching a movie last night. I never fall asleep during a new movie.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">6. I'm so thankful for the Indian gown that Samatha brought to me from India. I have been wearing it for a robe. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">7. We have a mile high stack of laundry on the sofa and nobody has the energy to fold it. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">8. The ENT doctor wants me to have gastric bypass surgery. I'm having a hard time considering it.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">9. Beignet is always happy. It is nice to have that presence in our home. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">10.Bob is at a place called "Fatburger" that makes the most marvelous hamburgers in the world. He is bringing them home for dinner. I get mine on a plate of lettuce with lots of veggies without the bun. Yum. And...the funny thing is that they pat the fat off the fresh lean meat burgers. The name is from the 50's. </span>creative sidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09915589368421829729noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18341418.post-40536125230379418022010-04-13T15:07:00.000-07:002010-04-13T15:14:35.254-07:00TEN THINGS TUESDAY<span style="font-family:arial;">1. My peonies are about 18" high already.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">2. The cherry tree is in bloom.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">3. I'm still really sick. It's depressing for both Bob and me.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">4. I have a yearning for homemade kettle corn.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">5. I want to dance in the sunshine with great abandon.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">6. Bob has been pulling up ivy. We're trying to get rid of it..</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">7. Goggle is finally mat free. That means the cats can get a bath.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">8. I've been knitting a hat for John. I'll probably make two.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">9. I wish I had a log of all of the hats I've ever made. It's a lot.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">10.I'm ready to wear shorts and tank tops. I like the warm weather. Wait till July!</span>creative sidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09915589368421829729noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18341418.post-3883247176365592952010-04-07T14:37:00.000-07:002010-04-08T21:00:12.515-07:00TEN THINGS<span style="font-family:arial;">1. I can't talk and have had laryngitis for almost two weeks. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">2. Because I can't talk I'm on self imposed voice rest hoping it will reduce the swelling.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">3. My sister's whole family is sick.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">4. Is this the universe's idea of a joke. Give us beautiful sunshine and flowers and make us too sick to enjoy it.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">5. At least we have beautiful flowers and sunshine.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">6. Beignet is absolutely gorgeous and is so proud of her feathers.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">7. I'm happy to have my nephew Jeremiah home with his family. He's been overseas on duty.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">8. I finally got my iPod to work. I won't ever buy an Apple product again. They don't have the heavy duty applications that are available in Windows OS gadgets. Their ads are good though.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">9. I cut my hair yesterday. It feels so good. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">10.Sam has become so cute. He is charming and I say that with reserve. In actuality he is a magnet. He does such cute things. His new word for the weekend was cha tsige. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Sausage. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">I'm pooped today after two doctor's appointments. Prednisone is great to heal a person, but one day off it and you go back to reality. The doc says I need another week on it. Oh boy, no sleep this week. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Being sick for near on two weeks makes one a little sassy and caged. Cabin fever is at its high in this house. I want to go out and work in the dirt!!!!!!!!!!!</span>creative sidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09915589368421829729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18341418.post-16268053161949926452010-04-01T06:30:00.000-07:002010-04-01T06:37:29.470-07:00TEN THINGS THURSDAY<span style="font-family:arial;">1. I've had a really bad asthma attack.</span><br /><span style="font-family:arial;">2. Have I ever mentioned that I really hate ER rooms and Hospitals. They help, but I had them.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">3. I had great docs helping me. 911 told me I only had a little cold and left. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">4. I learned about the kind of old woman I don't want to be when I get old (never). </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">5. The food was delicious at the hospital - like going out to a great deli. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">6. I'm so happy to be at home after basically 5 1/2 days at the hospital. Too much to explain.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">7. Did I mention I'm so happy to be home with my family. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">8. Spring is really here. The peony's are growing fast.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">9. It is so good to feel a lot better.</span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">10. I'm thankful for modern medicine. The attack I had would have killed me before cortisone was available. Of course cortisone has been around for a long time, but I'm still so thankful for it when it is necessary. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">ps: Thanks to all who prayed for me during this time. It always helps and is appreciated.</span>creative sidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09915589368421829729noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-18341418.post-81199946600302052662010-03-23T05:16:00.000-07:002010-03-23T05:25:02.887-07:00BUNNY<span style="font-family:arial;">Sunday afternoon after working in the garden I went to leave via the west garden gate. My eye caught a little bunny but she did not attempt to move or even move her ears. As I looked I realized that there was a bulge coming from beneath her stomach and that she was laying on newborn babies. Bob came out and took a picture of her, but it was dusk, and didn't turn out well. She was gone the next night, having realized she was discovered. We have enjoyed these little tan bunnies so much since we moved here. We see them on a regular basis, but have never seen babies. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Bob said he saw Scarborough the deer about a month ago, probably pregnant. It is about time according to the plants for her to bring her young by to show them the columbines. I hope I get to see it. </span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:Arial;">Little by little we are planting things and thinning things, and picking up things that fall or are dead. It is a serious job, but we are dedicated to keep up at it. This past six months we have planted five new trees: one Japanese maple and four vine maples. We have also planted a lot of calla lilies and Stargazer lilies, day lilies and I planted sweet pea seeds that are all blue. We have so many rhododendron bushes that I think I'm going to plant one in my favorite deck pot. They have a small root system, so it should be able to live the pot for a long time. </span>creative sidehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09915589368421829729noreply@blogger.com0